Located
in central Dalmatia , in the county of Zadarska, Zadar (population 75,000) is 226km from Rijeka, 160km from Split and only 72km from Sibenik. (see Zadar on a map)

The Old Town lies on a peninsula contained within the roads running along two quays. Beyond medieval Zadar lies the economic heart of the city as postwar housing, industrial parks and commercial zones sprawl outward to the suburbs.

About 6km to the northwest lies the wooded beach suburbs of Diklo and Boric which have been developed into a tourist zone replete with hotels and a hostel. (see more on Zadar accommodation)

Visiting Zadar is like peeling back layers of
time until you end up in the 9th century BC in ancient Illyria. The Old Town is paved with gleaming white stone and the straight streets were first laid out by the Romans. A high wall remains on the harbour side, built by the Venetians in the 16th century, and an entrance gate still sports the Venetian lion.

Zadar was conquered by the Romans and became the colony of Iadera. Later the Venetians moved in but the port city was repeatedly attacked by the Turks. Venetian rule passed to the Austrians in the 18th century and then to Italy
until 1943 when the Germans moved in. Allied
bombing destroyed much of the historic centre which was rebuilt after
the war only to suffer more attacks by Yugoslav forces in 1991. Read
more Zadar history.

What to Do

In recent years Zadar
has undergone a startling revival. Cafes and bars are filled, museums
and churches have been restored and tourists are pouring in to take advantage of the beaches, bars, restaurants and cultural offerings. Not only is Zadar one of the Adriatic's most historically interesting towns but it lies within driving distance of four national parks: Plitvice Lakes, Krka Waterfalls, Paklenica and Northern Velebit, plus there are boat excursions to the Kornati Islands National Park. There are also the large islands of Pag and Dugi Otok to visit as well as an archipelago of smaller islands such as Ugljan, Pasman, Molat and Premuda.

Experience Zadar
at night. Make the
effort. It's easy to wander from cocktails to dinner to after-dinner
drinks to a nightclub, all within the Old Town. You'll be glad you did.

Festivals and Events

At the beginning of August the Zadar Dreams (Zadar Snova) festival brings contemporary theatre to the streets of Zadar. Focusing on the exciting and cutting edge, this festival attracts companies from around Europe. See Zadar Snova Facebook page.

Film buffs will want to catch the Zadar Film Forum Festival at the end of August. For the duration of the festival, Zadar is transformed into a giant open-air cinema as screenings are set up throughout the old town. More.

The massively popular Garden Festival at the beginning of July is Croatia's first electronic dance music festival. It's in Tisno, south of Zadar but it's well-linked by public transport. More.

Also in Tisno but in August is the Soundwave Festival with a more world music approach that features hip-hop, dub, afro-beat, soul and house in live and electronic form.

Tourist Information in Zadar

Video

I took the following video as
I was leaving Zadar one morning in April. The Jadrolinija
ferry I was taking to Mali Losinj only ran once a week (it no longer exists) and it was packed. I started filming while we
waited for the heavily-laden trucks and cars to lumber aboard and finished
just as we were leaving the port. The view that you see is of the northeastern
walls that border Jazine Bay, the body of water that separates the peninsula
containing Zadar's Old Town from the greater metropolitan area. You'll
see the bell tower of Zadar's cathedral as well as a series of Jadrolinija
ferries!